Oddly
Find the sum of all three-digit numbers each of whose digits is
odd.
Problem
Image
Find the sum of all the three-digit numbers which only have odd digits.
Getting Started
You could start by beginning to list the numbers.
What do you notice?
Student Solutions
I looked at this one as soon as I got on the site and started off by writing down all of the ones up to $199$:
$111$, $113$, $115$, $117$ ... $197$, $199$.
I got the answer to all of them which was $3875$.
I then changed the first digit to $3$ to make it $311$, $313$ ... $399$.
Then I did the same for all the rest.
My final answer when I had added it all up was $69 375$.
Nicely done Adam from Poltair Community School and Sports College, Cornwall!
A big thank you too to Michael for your elegant method of finding the sum of all 3 digit numbers each of whose digits is odd:
I think the answer is $69 375$.1. I estimated the total c $50 000$.
2. I wrote out all the three-digit numbers $100$-$199$ which had odd digits only, and observed a pattern: value of $100$ occurred $25$ times.
3. Decided that if all those numbers were written out, the values of $100$, $300$, $500$, $700$, and $900$ would each occur $25$ times; the values of $10$, $30$, $50$, $70$, and $90$ would do the same; and the values of $1$, $3$, $5$, $7$, and $9$ similarly.
4. Therefore, the sum can be simplified to: $25(100+300+500+700+900) + 25(10+30+50+70+90) + 25(1+3+5+7+9) = 69 375$
5. This is still very large!
We can simplify it further to: $25(111+333+555+777+999) = 69 375$
Teachers' Resources
Why do this problem?
This
activity is very good for exploring properties of odd (and
even) numbers. It can provide an opportunity for pupils to show
their skills in perseverance.
Key questions
What have you discovered so far?
Tell me about the numbers you've found.
Possible extension
Learners could explore even numbers and then compare their
findings to the odd numbers. Can they explain the
results?
Possible support
Many children will find it helpful to have calculators to
hand.